Review: This board rips. I was nervous that moving from a regular cambered board to a reverse camber at my stage of the game was going to throw me for a loop. This couldn't have been further from the truth. Whether you call it cheating or not, this board instantly made me a better rider, and it's so easy to ride. So responsive, super maneuverable, and seemingly impossible to catch an edge. I couldn't believe how forgiving it was. Despite NS claims that the board is ready to ride out of the box, including a One Ball Jay wax, the factory wax blows. My 105 lb wife was roasting me in the flats on her 142 Roxy, and generally I felt like I was getting bogged down a lot. That aside, I was so stoked with this board, and was really blown away by what a different riding experience it was to my DH. SO much more stable, especially in the crud (which is all there was today). I couldn't recommend this board highly enough to someone making the transition from beginner to intermediate, and am so happy I picked it up.

I really want to try an sl-r, but from what I hear they're not as forgiving as other rockers? Maybe Ill buy one next season.

I think you have it backwards. No other rocker is as forgiving as the SL-R...hense why Lib Tech is moving to double rocker in 2010, because while the Banana is a great board and all it feels much different than a regular snowboard..something that some people just cant get past. Double rocker feels more like a regular cambered board.

Did you do a fresh wax before you went out or did you ride on the factory crap? I've never really had any issues with my SL-R bogging down...

I think you have it backwards. No other rocker is as forgiving as the SL-R...hense why Lib Tech is moving to double rocker in 2010, because while the Banana is a great board and all it feels much different than a regular snowboard..something that some people just cant get past. Double rocker feels more like a regular cambered board.

Did you do a fresh wax before you went out or did you ride on the factory crap? I've never really had any issues with my SL-R bogging down...

Yeah, this board couldn't have been more forgiving. I also didn't think it rode "differently" so to speak than my regular cambered board - just better.

And yes, I rode on the factory crap. The girl at NS said that, unlike other manufacturers, they use a wax that's ready to ride out of the box. Wrong. I'll give it a real wax job before going out next time.

Yeah, this board couldn't have been more forgiving. I also didn't think it rode "differently" so to speak than my regular cambered board - just better.

And yes, I rode on the factory crap. The girl at NS said that, unlike other manufacturers, they use a wax that's ready to ride out of the box. Wrong. I'll give it a real wax job before going out next time.

Maybe ready to ride out of the box on a fresh board..but your getting one probably 3-6 months after it left the factory.

I posted a review of the SL-R in January and said it wasn't very forgiving. I'm an idiot though, and I had the bindings set back. Awesome for deep powder, but really sketchy for anything else. With the bindings centered though, it's a really nice ride. Holds an edge really well, and very hard to catch an edge. I'd also said it was hard to butter, but again that was due to the setback stance. With a centered stance and the board broken in a bit more, it's still not a noodle but it's easy enough to hold a nice long press.